Introduction
YouTube takes the information it knows about you and the videos you watch, and uses that data to identify videos it thinks you’ll like and recommends those to you on your YouTube home screen. Thankfully, if YouTube is wildly missing the mark and keeps pushing you videos from a creator you just don’t like, you can block videos from that YouTube channel from being recommended to you. The method I’ll show you for blocking a YouTube channel from appearing in your YouTube recommended feed works on both a web browser and the YouTube mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Additionally, if you want to unblock a YouTube channel you previously blocked I’ll show you how to do that as well. Examples of all instructions in the steps can be seen in both the YouTube video and image collection below.
Steps to Block a YouTube Channel from Your Recommended Feed
- Navigate to your YouTube home page and then navigate to the video from the YouTube channel you want to block from showing up in your YouTube recommended feed. In this example, I want to block seeing videos from the Angry Joe Show in my YouTube feed. And as a reminder, this process is the same whether you’re on the YouTube website or the YouTube mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
- Click the vertical ellipses associated with the video to open a menu.
- Click “Don’t Recommend Channel” in this menu.
The video is replaced with a message letting you know that YouTube will no longer recommend videos from this channel. Going forward you’ll no longer see videos from this channel in your YouTube feed. Next let’s walk through the steps to unblock a channel so you can see them in your YouTube recommended feed again. The only downside with this is that you can’t unblock a single YouTube channel and you have to unblock all of the YouTube channels you’ve ever blocked.
Steps to Unblock a YouTube Channel
Next let’s walk through the steps to unblock a channel so you can see them in your YouTube recommended feed again. The only downside with this is that you can’t unblock a single YouTube channel and you have to unblock all of the YouTube channels you’ve ever blocked.
- Open a web browser and navigate to www.MyActivity.Google.com. You’ll land on your Google My Activity home screen.
- Click “Other Google Activity” in the menu along the left side of the screen. The Activity Controls screen is displayed.
- Scroll down this screen until you get to the YouTube Not Interested Feedback section, and then click “Delete” in this section. A menu is shown letting you know that continuing will delete your YouTube Not Interested feedback and will result in YouTube suggesting videos you’ve previously marked as Not Interested. Again, you can’t unblock a single YouTube channel and you have to unblock all of the YouTube channels you’ve ever blocked.
- Click “Delete” again. Going forward any video creators you chose not to see in your YouTube feed will be available to be presented to you in your feed again.
Reasons to Block a YouTube Channel from Your Recommended Feed
1. Content Not Suitable
Blocking a channel on YouTube due to inappropriate content makes sense. Some channels post videos that are offensive or graphic in nature. By blocking these channels, viewers can ensure they don’t accidentally come across such content while browsing on the platform. Content that goes against your values and beliefs can also be filtered out by blocking the channel. Protecting your mental and emotional well-being is important, and taking control of what you watch on YouTube is one step in the right direction.
2. Too Many Videos from a Single Channel
When a channel posts too many videos, it can quickly become overwhelming. A cluttered recommended feed can make it difficult to find the content you really want to watch. Blocking channels that post excessive videos simplifies your recommended feed and helps you find what you’re looking for. No more sifting through a cluttered feed to find the gems. A clean and organized recommended feed leads to a better viewing experience.
3. Personal Reasons
Personal reasons for blocking a channel on YouTube can vary. Maybe the channel owner has a history of harassing other users or spreading false information. Maybe you had a negative interaction with the content creator. Whatever the reason, you have the right to control what you see on YouTube. By blocking a channel for personal reasons, you can keep negativity out of your recommended feed and maintain a positive viewing experience.
4. Irrelevant to Interests
Blocking channels that don’t align with your interests keeps your recommended feed focused. If a channel consistently posts content that doesn’t interest you, it’s likely you’ll lose interest in their videos over time. By blocking these channels, you can keep your recommended feed fresh and full of content that you actually want to watch. This leads to a more engaging and enjoyable YouTube experience.
